VNA Armenian, Moldovian leaders congratulated General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Le Kha Phieu has congratulated V X Darbinyan on his re-election as First Secretary of the Armenian Communist Party Central Committee at its 35th congress. President Tran Duc Luong on April 6, sent his message of congratulations to Vladimir Voronin on his election as President of the Republic of Moldova. The same day, National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh extended his congratulations to Eugenia Ostapciuc on her election as President of the Moldovian Parliament. (VNA) **** Russian visitors affirm scientific co-operation A delegation from the Russian Federation Council's Committee for Science, Culture, Education, Health Care and Environment led by its Chairman V V Sudarenkov began a five-day working visit to Vietnam from April 5. The delegation worked with a Vietnamese National Assembly delegation led by Culture, Education, Youth and Children Committee Chairwoman Tran Thi Tam Dan on April 6. The two delegations briefed each other about their activities, exchanged experiences and discussed ways to expand bilateral relations. During his meeting with the Russian delegation, Deputy National Assembly Chairman Vu Dinh Cu expressed his delight with the fine development of the friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and Russia in general and between the two legislatures in particular. He affirmed that Vietnam had always attended to boosting scientific and technological co-operation with Russia. He said that he hoped the Russian Federation Council would help carry out the scientific and technological co-operation agreements signed between the two countries, thus contributing to furthering the multi-faceted relationship between Vietnam and Russia. The delegation plans to have working sessions with the leaders of the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry, the National Centre for Natural Science and Technology, the Education and Training Ministry, and visit a number of historical and cultural sites in central Thua Thien-Hue province and Ho Chi Minh City. (VNA) **** Russian ambassador gets Friendship Order Departing Russian Ambassador V V Ivanov was presented with Vietnam's Friendship Order in Hanoi on April 6. The presentation was made by Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien in recognition of the Russian diplomat's contributions to the strengthening and development of the traditional friendship and multi-faceted co-operation between Vietnam and Russia. Ambassador Ivanov was received in Hanoi the same day by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai who expressed his hope that Ambassador Ivanov would continue to contribute to Vietnam-Russia relations. Ambassador Ivanov told the Prime Minister Khai that he was sincerely grateful to the Vietnam government and relevant agencies for facilitating his work in Vietnam. He expressed the hope that the two governments and peoples would continue implementing the high-level agreements signed between the two countries, thus boosting and expanding the friendship and comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and Russia. (VNA) **** Cubans confident Vietnam's Party Congress success Cuba's leaders are confident that the Ninth Vietnam Communist Party Congress will be successful. Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee Politburo member and Chairman of its External Relations Commission Jose Ramon Balaguer, expressed the confidence on April 5 while receiving a Vietnam National Assembly delegation led by its External Relations Committee Chairman Do Van Tai. Mr Tai is in Havana for the 105th meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Chairman Tai conveyed the best wishes of National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh to Cuba's leaders and told his host about Vietnam's preparations for its Ninth Party Congress. Host and guest discussed issues relating to the IPU 105th meeting. Mr Balageur expressed delight at Vietnam's preparations for its ninth National Congress which, he said would play an important role in the country's political life. He also briefed his guest about the Cuban people's diplomatic struggle at the Geneva session of the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Earlier, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque received Chairman Tai, and reaffirmed that the Vietnamese people would gain more achievements in socialist construction under the Party's clear-sighted leadership. He praised Vietnam's help to Cuba and the revolutionary movement in Latin America and stressed that Vietnam's Ninth Party Congress would open a new period in its socialist construction. Chairman Tai told the Cuban Foreign Minister about his country's achievements recorded over the past 15 years of renovation and preparations for the ninth Party Congress. He affirmed the Party's determination to follow the path of socialism and build a rich, powerful, just and civilised society. While in Havana, the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation had working sessions with the Cuban National Assembly's Deputy President, External Relations Committee Chairman, Cuban Institute of Friendship with the People (ICAP) and the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association. (VNA) **** Ties with Belgium French - speaking community expanded A joint delegation of Vietnam's Foreign Ministry, Education and Training Ministry and the Government Office paid a visit to Belgium from April 2-6 and attended the fourth session of the Vietnam - Belgium's French-speaking Community Joint Committee. The visit led by Tran Chien Thang, Vice-Minister of Culture and Information, was made at the invitation of Belgium's French-speaking community High Commissioner for international relations. At the session, the delegations reviewed the co-operation in culture, education, environment, health care, law and tourism between the two countries and worked out orientations for future work. The session will help expand bilateral ties with more efficiency in the 2001-2003 period. Vietnam's Ambassador to Belgium Ton Nu Thi Ninh participated in the delegation's activities. (VNA) **** UN grants relief to flood-affected farmers The United Nations has granted urgent farmers who had been heavily affected by floods in the Mekong delta. Project OSRRO/VIE/002/NOR for the grant was signed in Hanoi on April 6, by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Vietnamese government. The project will be carried out within six months at a cost of US $219,485 funded by Norway. About 10,000 poor farmer households which suffered from the flooding in Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho and Vinh Long Mekong delta provinces will directly benefit from the relief aid. They will be supplied with vegetable and fruit seeds and fertiliser. The relief will help farmer households in the target areas to restore agricultural production, improve their nutrition and raise their income. The southern Institute for Fruit-Tree Research is responsible for giving technical support to the project. (VNA) **** Donations for Indian quake victims The National Reserve Department, presented as token aid from the Vietnamese people to quake victims in Indian Gujarat State. This is in implementation of the prime minister's decision. The aid included over 500 canvas house sets worth some VND 7 billion. These will help the victims in overcoming difficulties in accommodation. Present at the aid presentation ceremony were representatives of the Government's Office, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian ambassador to Vietnam. **** Urgent aid to natural calamity victims The Vietnam Red Cross Association has provided urgent aid worth VND 20 million to victims of a whirlwind that hit the three districts of Moc Chau, Yen Chau and Mai Son in the northern mountainous province of Son La on March 26. The whirlwind, together with hail, pulled down 25 houses and damaged over 330 others. Luckily, no one was reported injured or killed. The association also provided VND 40 million to people in Xuan Binh and Thiet Diem villages in Song Cau district and An Linh village in Tuy An district, Phu Yen province. The people here are facing many difficulties due to a land erosion in last December and a recent whirlwind that hit the villages on March 17. Fifteen houses were collapsed and 33 households had to evacuate to avoid further land erosion. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
